Asus P7P55-M User Manual

P7P55-M
Motherboard
E5073
First Edition V1
October 2009
Copyright © 2009 ASUSTeK Computer Inc. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this manual, including the products and software described in it, may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any means, except documentation kept by the purchaser for backup purposes, without the express written permission of ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (“ASUS”).
product is defaced or missing.
ASUS PROVIDES THIS MANUAL “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL ASUS, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF USE OR DATA, INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS AND THE LIKE), EVEN IF ASUS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM ANY DEFECT OR ERROR IN THIS MANUAL OR PRODUCT.
SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL ARE FURNISHED FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY ASUS. ASUS ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR INACCURACIES THAT MAY APPEAR IN THIS MANUAL, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTS AND SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN IT.
Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or
copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identication or explanation and to the owners’ benet, without intent to infringe.
ii
Contents
Notices ......................................................................................................... vi
Safety information ..................................................................................... vii
About this guide ....................................................................................... viii
P7P55-M specications summary ............................................................. ix
Chapter 1: Product introduction
1.1 Welcome! ...................................................................................... 1-1
1.2 Package contents ......................................................................... 1-1
1.3 Special features ............................................................................ 1-1
1.3.1 Product highlights ........................................................... 1-1
1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features ............................................... 1-2
1.4 Before you proceed ..................................................................... 1-5
1.5 Motherboard overview ................................................................. 1-6
1.5.1 Placement direction ........................................................ 1-6
1.5.2 Screw holes .................................................................... 1-6
1.5.3 Motherboard layout ......................................................... 1-7
1.5.4 Layout contents ............................................................... 1-7
1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU) ................................................... 1-8
1.6.1 Installing the CPU ........................................................... 1-8
1.6.2 Installing the CPU heatsink and fan ...............................1-11
1.6.3 Uninstalling the CPU heatsink and fan ......................... 1-12
1.7 System memory ......................................................................... 1-13
1.7.1 Overview ....................................................................... 1-13
1.7.2 Memory congurations .................................................. 1-14
1.7.3 Installing a DIMM .......................................................... 1-19
1.7.4 Removing a DIMM ........................................................ 1-19
1.8 Expansion slots .......................................................................... 1-20
1.8.1 Installing an expansion card ......................................... 1-20
1.8.2 Conguring an expansion card ..................................... 1-20
1.8.3 PCI slot ......................................................................... 1-20
1.8.4 PCI Express x1 slots ..................................................... 1-20
1.8.5 PCI Express x16 slot ..................................................... 1-20
1.9 Jumpers ...................................................................................... 1-21
1.11 Connectors ................................................................................. 1-23
1.11.1 Rear panel connectors .................................................. 1-23
1.11.2 Internal connectors ....................................................... 1-24
iii
Contents
1.12 Software support ........................................................................ 1-30
1.12.1 Installing an operating system ...................................... 1-30
1.12.2 Support DVD information .............................................. 1-30
Chapter 2: BIOS information
2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS ............................................ 2-1
2.1.1 ASUS Update utility ........................................................ 2-1
2.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility ................................................... 2-2
2.1.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS ................................................... 2-3
2.1.4 ASUS BIOS Updater ....................................................... 2-4
2.2 BIOS setup program .................................................................... 2-7
2.3 Main menu .................................................................................... 2-8
2.3.1 System Time ................................................................... 2-8
2.3.2 System Date .................................................................. 2-8
2.3.3 Language ........................................................................ 2-8
2.3.3 SATA 1-6 ............................................................................................2-8
2.3.4 Storage Conguration ..................................................... 2-9
2.3.5 System Information ....................................................... 2-10
2.4 Ai Tweaker menu ........................................................................ 2-10
2.5 Advanced menu ......................................................................... 2-15
2.5.1 CPU Conguration ........................................................ 2-15
2.5.2 Chipset .......................................................................... 2-17
2.5.3 Onboard Devices Conguration .................................... 2-17
2.5.4 USB Conguration ........................................................ 2-18
2.5.5 PCI PnP ........................................................................ 2-19
2.5.6 Intel VT-d ....................................................................... 2-19
2.6 Power menu ................................................................................ 2-20
2.6.1 Suspend Mode .............................................................. 2-20
2.6.2 ACPI 2.0 Support ......................................................... 2-20
2.6.3 ACPI APIC Support ...................................................... 2-20
2.6.4 APM Conguration ........................................................ 2-20
2.6.5 Hardware Monitor ......................................................... 2-21
2.7 Boot menu .................................................................................. 2-22
2.7.1 Boot Device Priority ...................................................... 2-22
iv
Contents
2.7.2 Boot Settings Conguration .......................................... 2-22
2.7.3 Security ......................................................................... 2-23
2.8 Tools menu ................................................................................. 2-25
2.8.1 ASUS O.C. Prole ......................................................... 2-25
2.8.2 AI NET 2........................................................................ 2-26
2.8.3 ASUS EZ Flash 2 .......................................................... 2-26
2.8.4 Express Gate ................................................................ 2-26
2.9 Exit menu .................................................................................... 2-27
v

Notices

Federal Communications Commission Statement
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
This device may not cause harmful interference, and
This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, may cause harmful interference
to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
The use of shielded cables for connection of the monitor to the graphics card is required
to assure compliance with FCC regulations. Changes or modications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority
to operate this equipment.
Canadian Department of Communications Statement
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.
This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
REACH
Complying with the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) regulatory framework, we published the chemical substances in our products at ASUS REACH website at http://green.asus.com/english/REACH.htm.
DO NOT throw the motherboard in municipal waste. This product has been designed to enable proper reuse of parts and recycling. This symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the product (electrical and electronic equipment) should not be placed in municipal waste. Check local regulations for disposal of electronic products.
DO NOT throw the mercury-containing button cell battery in municipal waste. This symbol of the crossed out wheeled bin indicates that the battery should not be placed in municipal waste.
vi

Safety information

Electrical safety
To prevent electric shock hazard, disconnect the power cable from the electric outlet
before relocating the system.
When adding or removing devices to or from the system, ensure that the power cables for the devices are unplugged before the signal cables are connected. If possible, disconnect all power cables from the existing system before you add a device.
Before connecting or removing signal cables from the motherboard, ensure that all power cables are unplugged.
Seek professional assistance before using an adapter or extension cord. These devices could interrupt the grounding circuit.
Ensure that your power supply is set to the correct voltage in your area. If you are not sure about the voltage of the electrical outlet you are using, contact your local power company.
If the power supply is broken, do not try to x it by yourself. Contact a qualied service
technician or your retailer.
The optical S/PDIF is an optional component (may or may not be included in your
motherboard) and is dened as a CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT.
INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION, AVOID EXPOSURE TO BEAM.
Never dispose of the battery in re. It could explode and release harmful substances into
the environment.
Never dispose of the battery with your regular household waste. Take it to a hazardous
material collection point.
Never replace the battery with an incorrect battery type.
• RISK OF EXPLOSION IF BATTERY IS REPLACED BY AN INCORRECT TYPE.
• DISPOSE OF USED BATTERIES ACCORDING TO THE ABOVE BATTERY-RELATED INSTRUCTIONS.
Operation safety
Before installing the motherboard and adding devices on it, carefully read all the manuals that came with the package.
Before using the product, ensure that all cables are correctly connected and the power cables are not damaged. If you detect any damage, contact your dealer immediately.
To avoid short circuits, keep paper clips, screws, and staples away from connectors, slots, sockets and circuitry.
Avoid dust, humidity, and temperature extremes. Do not place the product in any area where it may become wet.
This motherboard should only be used in environments with ambient temperatures between 5ºC (41ºF) and 40ºC (104ºF).
Place the product on a stable surface.
If you encounter technical problems with the product, contact a qualied service
technician or your retailer.
vii

About this guide

This user guide contains the information you need when installing and conguring the
motherboard.
How this guide is organized
This guide contains the following parts:
Chapter 1: Product introduction
This chapter describes the features of the motherboard and the new technology it
supports.
Chapter 2: BIOS information
This chapter tells how to change system settings through the BIOS Setup menus.
Detailed descriptions of the BIOS parameters are also provided.
Conventions used in this guide
To ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols used throughout this manual.
DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to
complete a task.
CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to
complete a task.
IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.
NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.
Where to nd more information
Refer to the following sources for additional information and for product and software updates.
1. ASUS websites
The ASUS website provides updated information on ASUS hardware and software
products. Refer to the ASUS contact information.
2. Optional documentation
Your product package may include optional documentation, such as warranty yers,
that may have been added by your dealer. These documents are not part of the standard package.
Typography
Bold text Indicates a menu or an item to select.
Italics
Used to emphasize a word or a phrase.
<Key> Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign means that you must press the enclosed key. Example: <Enter> means that you must press the Enter or Return key.
<Key1>+<Key2>+<Key3> If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the key names are linked with a plus sign (+). Example: <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<D>
viii
P7P55-M specications summary
CPU LGA1156 socket for Intel® Core™ i7/ Core™ i5 processors
Chipset Intel® P55 Express Chipset
Memory Dual-channel memory architecture
Expansion slots 1 x PCI Express™ 2.0 x16 slot
Storage Intel® P55 Express Chipset:
LAN Realtek® RTL8112L Gigabit LAN controller featuring AI NET2
Audio VIA® VT1708S 8-channel High Denition Audio CODEC
IEEE 1394 JMB381 controller supports 1 x IEEE1394 port at back panel.
USB Supports up to 14 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (6 ports at mid-board,
ASUS unique features
Supports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology * Refer to www.asus.com for Intel® CPU support list.
4 x 240-pin DIMM slots support maximum 16GB unbuffered non-ECC DDR3 2200(O.C.)/2133(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/ 1800(O.C.)/1600/1333 /1066MHz memory modules
* Supports Intel® Extreme Memory Prole (XMP) ** Refer to www.asus.com for the latest Memory QVL (Qualied Vendors List). *** When you install a total memory of 4GB or more, Windows® 32-bit operating system may only recognize less than 3GB. We recommend a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a Windows® 32-bit operating system.
2 x PCI Express™ 2.0 x1 slots 1 x PCI slot
- 6 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s connectors
- Intel® Matrix Storage supporting SATA RAID 0,1, 5, and 10
VIA® VT6415 PATA controller:
- 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 connector
- Optical S/PDIF out port at back I/O
- Supports Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, and Front Panel Jack-Retasking technologies
8 ports at the back panel)
ASUS Turbo Key ASUS TurboV ASUS EPU ASUS Express Gate ASUS CrashFree BIOS3
ASUS EZ Flash 2 ASUS MyLogo 2
(continued on the next page)
ix
P7P55-M specications summary
ASUS exclusive overclocking features
Back panel I/O ports 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port
Internal I/O connectors
BIOS 16 Mb Flash ROM, AMI BIOS, PnP, DMI 2.0, WfM 2.0,
Accessories 1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable
Support DVD Drivers
Form factor microATX form factor: 9.6 in x 8.6 in (24.4 cm x 21.8 cm)
SFS (Stepless Frequency Selection):
- Internal Base Clock tuning from 133 MHz up to 500MHz at 1MHz increment
- PCI Express frequency tuning from 100MHz up to 160MHz at 1MHz increment
Overclocking Protection:
- ASUS C.P.R.(CPU Parameter Recall)
1 x COM port 1 x IEEE1394 1 x LAN (RJ-45) port 8 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports 8-channel audio I/O ports
3 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors support additional 6 USB 2.0/1.1 ports 1 x IDE connector 6 x SATA connectors 1 x CPU fan/1 x Chassis fan connectors 1 x LPT connector 1 x Front panel audio connector 1 x S/PDIF Out connector
1 x 24-pin EATX power connector 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
1 x System panel connector
SM BIOS 2.5, ACPI 2.0a
2 x Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s cables
1 x I/O shield 1 x User Manual
ASUS Utilities ASUS Update Anti-virus software (OEM version)
* Specications are subject to change without notice.
x
Chapter 1

Product introduction

1.1 Welcome!

Thank you for buying an ASUS® P7P55-M motherboard! The motherboard delivers a host of new features and latest technologies, making it another
standout in the long line of ASUS quality motherboards! Before you start installing the motherboard, and hardware devices on it, check the items in
your package with the list below.

1.2 Package contents

Check your motherboard package for the following items.
Motherboard ASUS P7P55-M motherboard
Cables 2 x Serial ATA 3.0Gb/s cables
1 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66 cable
Accessories 1 x I/O shield
Application DVD ASUS motherboard support DVD
Documentation User Manual
If any of the above items is damaged or missing, contact your retailer.

1.3 Special features

1.3.1 Product highlights

Intel® LGA1156 Lynneld Processor Ready
This motherboard supports the latest Intel® Lynneld processors in LGA1156 package, which has memory and PCI Express controller
integrated to support 2-channel (4 DIMMs) DDR3 memory and 16 PCI Express 2.0 lanes, providing great graphics performance. Intel® Lynneld processor is one of the most powerful and energy efcient CPU in the
world.
ASUS P7P55-M 1-1
Intel® P55
The Intel® P55 Express Chipset is the latest one-chipset design to support the latest 1156 socket Intel® Core™ i7 / Core™ i5 processors. Intel® P55 provides improved performance by utilizing serial point-to-point links, allowing increased bandwidth and stability.
Dual-Channel DDR3 2200(O.C.) / 1600 / 1333 / 1066 support
The motherboard supports DDR3 memory that features data transfer
rates of 2200(O.C.) / 1600 / 1333 / 1066 MHz to meet the higher
bandwidth requirements of the latest 3D graphics, multimedia, and Internet applications. The dual-channel DDR3 architecture enlarges the bandwidth of your system memory to boost system performance.
PCI Express 2.0
This motherboard supports the latest PCI Express 2.0 devices for double
speed and bandwidth that enhances system performance.
Serial ATA 3Gb/s technology
This motherboard supports hard drives based on the Serial ATA (SATA)
3Gb/s storage specications, delivering enhanced salability and doubling
the bus bandwidth for high-speed data saving and retrieval.
S/PDIF digital sound ready
This motherboard provides convenient connectivity to external home theater audio systems via the S/PDIF-out (SONY-PHILIPS Digital Interface) jack. It allows digital audio transfer and keeps the best signal quality.
Gigabit LAN solution
The onboard LAN controller is a highly integrated Gb LAN controller. It is
enhanced with an ACPI management function to provide efcient power
management for advanced operating systems.

1.3.2 Innovative ASUS features

Turbo Key
ASUS Turbo Key allows you to turn the PC power button into a physical overclocking button. After the easy setup, Turbo Key can boost performances without interrupting ongoing work or games—with just one touch!
ASUS TurboV
Feel the adrenaline rush of real-time OC-now a reality with the ASUS TurboV. This easy OC tool allows you to overclock without exiting or
rebooting the OS; and its user-friendly interface makes overclock with just a few clicks away. Moreover, the ASUS OC proles in TurboV provides
the best O.C. settings in different scenarios.
1-2 Chapter 1: Product introduction
ASUS EPU
ASUS EPU is a unique power saving technology that detects the current system loadings and adjusts the power consumption in real time.
ASUS Express Gate
ASUS Express Gate is an instant-on environment that gives you quick access to the Internet. Five seconds after powering on your computer, you can instantly surf the Internet without entering the Windows® OS.
• ASUS Express Gate supports installation on SATA HDDs, USB HDDs and ash drives with at least 1.2GB free disk space. When installing it on USB HDDs or ash drives, connect the drives to the motherboard USB port before turning on the
computer.
• The actual boot time depends on the system conguration.
• ASUS Express Gate supports le uploading from SATA HDDs, ODDs and USB drives. It supports le downloading to USB drives only.
• ASUS Express Gate complies with the OpenGL standard. Refer to support.asus.com for Express Gate source codes.
ASUS O.C. Prole
The motherboard features the ASUS O.C. Prole that allows you to
conveniently store or load multiple BIOS settings. The BIOS settings can
be stored in the CMOS or a separate le, giving you the freedom to share
and distribute your favorite settings.
ASUS MyLogo2™
This feature allows you to convert your favorite photo into a 256-color
boot logo for a more colorful and vivid image on your screen.
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3
ASUS CrashFree BIOS 3 is an auto-recovery tool that allows you to
restore a corrupted BIOS le using the bundled support DVD or USB ash disk that contains the latest BIOS le.
ASUS EZ Flash 2
ASUS EZ Flash 2 is a utility that allows you to update the BIOS without
using an OS-based utility.
ASUS AI NET2
ASUS AI NET2 remotely detects the cable connection immediately after
turning on the system, and any faulty cable connections are reported back up to 100 meters at 1 meter accuracy.
ASUS P7P55-M 1-3
C.P.R. (CPU Parameter Recall)
The BIOS C.P.R. feature automatically restores the CPU default settings when the system hangs due to overclocking failure. C.P.R. eliminates the need to open the system chassis and clear the RTC data. Simply shut down and reboot the system, and the BIOS automatically restores the CPU parameters to their default settings.
Green ASUS
This motherboard and its packaging comply with the European Union’s Restriction on the use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). This is in line
with the ASUS vision of creating environment-friendly and recyclable
products/packaging to safeguard consumers’ health while minimizing the
impact on the environment.
1-4 Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.4 Before you proceed

P7P55-M
SB_PWR
ON
Standby Power Powered Off
OFF
P7P55-M Onboard LED
Take note of the following precautions before you install motherboard components or change any motherboard settings.
• Unplug the power cord from the wall socket before touching any component.
• Before handling components, use a grounded wrist strap or touch a safely grounded object or a metal object, such as the power supply case, to avoid damaging them due to static electricity.
• Hold components by the edges to avoid touching the ICs on them.
• Whenever you uninstall any component, place it on a grounded antistatic pad or in the bag that came with the component.
• Before you install or remove any component, ensure that the ATX power supply is switched off or the power cord is detached from the power supply. Failure to do so may cause severe damage to the motherboard, peripherals, or components.
Onboard LED
The motherboard comes with a standby power LED that lights up to indicate that the system is ON, in sleep mode, or in soft-off mode. This is a reminder that you must shut down the system and unplug the power cable before removing or plugging in any motherboard component. The illustration below shows the location of the onboard LED.
ASUS P7P55-M 1-5

1.5 Motherboard overview

P7P55-M
Before you install the motherboard, study the conguration of your chassis to ensure that the motherboard ts into it.
Ensure that you unplug the power cord before installing or removing the motherboard. Failure to do so can cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.

1.5.1 Placement direction

When installing the motherboard, ensure that you place it into the chassis in the correct orientation. The edge with external ports goes to the rear part of the chassis as indicated in the image below.

1.5.2 Screw holes

Place six screws into the holes indicated by circles to secure the motherboard to the chassis.
Do not overtighten the screws! Doing so can damage the motherboard.
Place this side towards the rear of the chassis
1-6 Chapter 1: Product introduction
P7P55-M
PCIEX16
PCI1
PCIEX1_1
PCIEX1_2
LPT
USB1314 USB1112 USB910
USBPW9-14
AAFP
ATX12V
USBPW1-8
KBPWR
EATXPWR
CPU_FAN
CHA_FAN
Lithium Cell
CMOS Power
Super
I/O
AUDIO
ICS
9LRS954
VIA
VT1708
RTL
8112L
KB_USB78
16Mb BIOS
JMB 381
SB_PWR
CLRTC
SPDIF_OUT
21.8cm(8.6in)
24.4cm(9.6in)
LGA1156
Intel
®
P55
DDR3 DIMM_A2 (64bit, 240-pin module)
DDR3 DIMM_A1 (64bit, 240-pin module)
DDR3 DIMM_B2 (64bit, 240-pin module)
DDR3 DIMM_B1 (64bit, 240-pin module)
LAN1_USB12
F_USB34
USB56
SATA1 SATA3
SATA5
SATA2 SATA4
SATA6
COM1
PRI_EIDE
PANEL
321 64 5 3
7
8
911012 1114 1315

1.5.3 Motherboard layout

1.5.4 Layout contents

Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page Connectors/Jumpers/Slots/LED Page
1. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW1-8, 3-pin
USBPW9-14)
2. Keyboard power (3-pin KBPWR) 1-22 10. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB910,
3. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V)
4. CPU and chassis fan connectors (4-pin
5. Intel CPU socket 1-8 13. LPT connector (26-1 pin LPT) 1-28
6. DDR3 DIMM sockets 1-13 14. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT) 1-26
7. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_EIDE) 1-25 15. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP) 1-24
8. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1-6) 1-28
ASUS P7P55-M 1-7
CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN)
1-22 9. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL) 1-29
USB1112, USB1314)
1-26 11. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC) 1-21
1-27 12. Onboard LED 1-5
1-27

1.6 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

A
B
P7P55-M
P7P55-M CPU socket LGA1156
The motherboard comes with a surface mount LGA1156 socket designed for the Intel® Core™ i7 / Core™ i5 processors.
Unplug all power cables before installing the CPU.
• Upon purchase of the motherboard, ensure that the PnP cap is on the socket and the socket contacts are not bent. Contact your retailer immediately if the PnP cap is missing, or if you see any damage to the PnP cap/socket contacts/motherboard components. ASUS will shoulder the cost of repair only if the damage is shipment/transit-related.
• Keep the cap after installing the motherboard. ASUS will process Return Merchandise
Authorization (RMA) requests only if the motherboard comes with the cap on the
LGA1156 socket.
• The product warranty does not cover damage to the socket contacts resulting from incorrect CPU installation/removal, or misplacement/loss/incorrect removal of the PnP cap.

1.6.1 Installing the CPU

To install a CPU:
1. Locate the CPU socket on the motherboard.
2. Press the load lever with your thumb (A),
and then move it to the right (B) until it is
Load lever
released from the retention tab.
To prevent damage to the socket pins, do not remove the PnP cap unless you are installing a CPU.
Retention tab
1-8 Chapter 1: Product introduction
3. Lift the load lever in the direction of the arrow until the load plate is completely lifted.
4. Remove the PnP cap from the CPU socket.
Load plate
PnP cap
5. Position the CPU over the socket, ensuring that the gold triangle is on the bottom-left corner of the socket, and then
t the socket alignment keys into the CPU
CPU notches
notches.
The CPU ts in only one correct
orientation. DO NOT force the CPU into the socket to prevent bending the connectors on the socket and damaging the CPU!
ASUS P7P55-M 1-9
Gold
triangle
mark
Alignment keys
B
A
C
6. Apply some Thermal Interface Material to the exposed area of the CPU that the heatsink will be in contact with, ensuring that it is spread in an even thin layer.
Some heatsinks come with pre­applied thermal paste. If so, skip this step.
The Thermal Interface Material is toxic and inedible. DO NOT eat it. If it gets into your eyes or touches your skin, wash it off immediately, and seek professional medical help.
7. Close the load plate (A), and then push down the load lever (B), ensuring that the front edge of the load plate slides under the retention knob (C).
8. Insert the load lever under the retention tab.
1-10 Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.6.2 Installing the CPU heatsink and fan

The Intel® LGA1156 processor requires a specially designed heatsink and fan assembly to ensure optimum thermal condition and performance.
When you buy a boxed Intel® processor, the package includes the CPU fan and heatsink assembly. If you buy a CPU separately, ensure that you use only Intel®-certied multi-directional heatsink and fan.
• Your Intel® LGA1156 heatsink and fan assembly comes in a push-pin design and requires no tool to install.
• Use an LGA1156-compatible CPU heatsink and fan assembly only. The LGA1156 socket
is incompatible with the LGA775 and LGA1366 sockets in size and dimension.
If you purchased a separate CPU heatsink and fan assembly, ensure that you have properly applied Thermal Interface Material to the CPU heatsink or CPU before you install the heatsink and fan assembly.
Ensure that you have installed the motherboard to the chassis before you install the CPU fan and heatsink assembly.
To install the CPU heatsink and fan:
1. Place the heatsink on top of the installed CPU, ensuring that the four fasteners match the holes on the motherboard.
Orient the heatsink and fan assembly such that the CPU fan cable is closest to the CPU fan connector.
2. Push down two fasteners at a time in a
diagonal sequence to secure the heatsink and fan assembly in place.
A
B
The type of CPU heatsink and fan assembly may differ, but the installation steps and functions should remain the same. The illustration above is for reference only.
B
A
A
B
B
A
1
1
ASUS P7P55-M 1-11
3. Connect the CPU fan cable to the connector on the motherboard labeled CPU_FAN.
CPU_FAN
CPU FAN PWM
CPU FAN IN
CPU FAN PWR
GND
P7P55-M
P7P55-M CPU fan connector
Do not forget to connect the CPU fan connector! Hardware monitoring errors can occur if you fail to plug this connector.

1.6.3 Uninstalling the CPU heatsink and fan

To uninstall the CPU heatsink and fan:
1. Disconnect the CPU fan cable from the connector on the motherboard.
2. Rotate each fastener counterclockwise.
3. Pull up two fasteners at a time in a diagonal sequence to disengage the heatsink and fan assembly from the motherboard.
A
A
B
B
B
B
A
1-12 Chapter 1: Product introduction
A
4. Carefully remove the heatsink and fan
P7P55-M
P7P55-M 240-pin DDR3 DIMM sockets
DIMM_A2
DIMM_A1
DIMM_B2
DIMM_B1
assembly from the motherboard.
5. Rotate each fastener clockwise to ensure correct orientation when reinstalling.

1.7 System memory

1.7.1 Overview

The motherboard comes with four Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) sockets.
A DDR3 module has the same physical dimensions as a DDR2 DIMM but is notched differently to prevent installation on a DDR2 DIMM socket. DDR3 modules are developed for
better performance with less power consumption.
The gure illustrates the location of the DDR3 DIMM sockets:
Channel Sockets
Channel A DIMM_A1 and DIMM_A2
Channel B DIMM_B1 and DIMM_B2
ASUS P7P55-M 1-13
1.7.2 Memory congurations
You may install 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB unbuffered non-ECC DDR3 DIMMs into the
DIMM sockets.
• You may install varying memory sizes in Channel A and Channel B. The system maps the total size of the lower-sized channel for the dual-channel conguration. Any excess memory from the higher-sized channel is then mapped for single-channel operation.
• Due to Intel spec denition, X.M.P. DIMMs are supported for one DIMM per channel
only.
• According to Intel CPU spec, DIMM voltage below 1.65V is recommended to protect the CPU.
• According to Intel CPU spec, CPUs with a core frequency of 2.66G support the
maximum DIMM frequency of up to DDR3-1333. To use DIMMs of a higher frequency
with a 2.66G CPU, enable the DRAM O.C. Prole feature in BIOS. Refer to section 2.4 Ai Tweaker menu for details.
• Always install DIMMs with the same CAS latency. For optimum compatibility, we recommend that you obtain memory modules from the same vendor.
• Due to the memory address limitation on 32-bit Windows® OS, when you install 4GB
or more memory on the motherboard, the actual usable memory for the OS can be about 3GB or less. For effective use of memory, we recommend that you do any of the following:
- Use a maximum of 3GB system memory if you are using a 32-bit Windows
- Install a 64-bit Windows® OS when you want to install 4GB or more on the
motherboard.
• This motherboard does not support DIMMs made up of 512Mb (64MB) chips or less.
• The default memory operation frequency is dependent on its Serial Presence Detect (SPD), which is the standard way of accessing information from a memory module. Under the default state, some memory modules for overclocking may operate at a lower frequency than the vendor-marked value. To operate at the vendor-marked or at a higher frequency, refer to section 2.4 Ai Tweaker menu for manual memory frequency adjustment.
• For system stability, use a more efcient memory cooling system to support a full
memory load (4 DIMMs) or overclocking condition.
®
OS.
1-14 Chapter 1: Product introduction
P7P55-M Motherboard Qualied Vendors Lists (QVL)
DDR3-2000 (O.C.) MHz capability
Vendor Part No. Size
GEIL GU34GB2000C9DC(XMP) 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-28 2.0V
Kingston KHX2000C8D3T1K3/3GX(XMP) 3072MB(kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 1.65V
Kingston KHX2000C9D3T1K3/3GX(XMP) 3072MB(kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 1.65V
Kingston KHX2000C8D3T1K3/6GX(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3 ) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 1.65V
OCZ OCZ3P20002GK(EPP) 2048MB(Kit of 2) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-30 1.85V
OCZ OCZ3P2000EB2GK 2048MB(Kit of 2) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-8-8-30 1.8V
OCZ OCZ3P20004GK(EPP) 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-30 1.9V
SS/
Brand Chip NO.
DS
Timing
DIMM
(BIOS)
Voltage
DIMM Support
A* B* C*
DDR3-1866(O.C.) MHz capability
Vendor Part No. Size
OCZ OCZ3P1866LV4GK 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-27 1.65V
SS/
Brand Chip NO.
DS
Timing
DIMM
(BIOS)
Voltage
DIMM Support
A* B* C*
DDR3-1800(O.C.) MHz capability
Vendor Part No. Size
Apacer 78.0AGCD.CDZ(XMP) 2048MB(Kit of 2) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package
Corsair CM3X2G1800C8D 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package
OCZ OCZ3P18004GK 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-27 1.9V
OCZ QCZ3P18004GK 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-27 1.9V
Transcend TX1800KLU-2GK 1024MB SS N/A Heat-Sink Package
SS/
Brand Chip NO.
DS
Timing
DIMM
(BIOS)
Voltage
DIMM Support
A* B* C*
DDR3-1600MHz capability
Vendor Part No. Size
A-Data AD31600E002GU 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-20 1.75-1.85V •
A-Data AD31600X002GMU 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-20 1.75-1.85V •
Corsair CM3X1G1600C9DHX 2048MB(Kit of 2) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24 1.8V
Corsair CM3X2G1600C9DHX 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 1.80V
Corsair CM3X2G1600C9DHX 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package
Corsair TR3X6G1600C8 G(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3 ) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package
Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D G(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3 ) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 1.65V
Corsair TR3X6G1600C9 G(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3 ) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24 1.65V
Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D G(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 1.65V
Crucial BL12864BA1608.8SFB(XMP) 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 1.8V
Crucial BL12864BE2009.8SFB3(EPP) 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-28 2.0V
Crucial BL25664BN1608.16FF(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3 ) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package
Crucial BL25664TB1608.K16SF(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24
Crucial BL25664TG1608.K16SF(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24
Crucial BL25664TR1608.K16SF(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24
SS/
Brand Chip NO.
DS
Timing
DIMM
(BIOS)
Voltage
DIMM Support
A* B* C*
continued on the next page
ASUS P7P55-M 1-15
DDR3 1600 MHz capability
Vendor Part No. Size
G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-2GBNQ 2048MB(Kit of 2) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24 1.5V~1.6V •
G.SKILL F3-12800CL8T-6GBHK 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-21 1.6~1.65
G.SkiLL F3-12800CL8T-6GBPI(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3 ) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-21 1.6-1.65V •
G.SKILL F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24 1.5V~1.6V •
GEIL GV34GB1600C8DC 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-28 1.6V
Kingmax FLGD45F-B8KG9 1024MB SS Kingmax KFB8FNGXF-
Kingmax FLGD45F-B8MF7 MAEH(XMP) 1024MB SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7
Kingmax FLGE85F-B8KG9 2048MB DS Kingmax KFB8FNGXF-
Kingmax FLGE85F-B8MF7 MEEH(XMP) 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7
Kingston KHX1600C9D3K2/4G 4096MB(kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 1.7-1.9V
Kingston KHX1600C9D3K3/6GX(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 1.65V
OCZ OCZ3G1600LV3GK 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 1.65V
OCZ OCZ3P1600EB4GK 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-6-24 1.9V
OCZ OCZ3SOU16004GK 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 1.9V
OCZ OCZ3X16004GK 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-24 1.9V
OCZ OCZ3G1600LV6GK 6144MB(Kit of 3 ) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 1.65V
Super Talent WA160UX6G9 6144MB(Kit of 3 ) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9
Kingtiger KTG2G1600PG3 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package
SS/
Brand Chip NO.
DS
ANX-12A
ANX-12A
Timing
DIMM
(BIOS)
Voltage
DIMM Support
A* B* C*
DDR3 1333 MHz capability
Voltage
1.85V
1.85V
DIMM
Support
A* B* C*
• • •
• • •
Vendor Part No. Size
A-Data AD31333001GOU 1024MB SS A-Data AD30908C8D-151C E0906 • • •
A-Data AD31333G001GOU 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 1.65-
A-Data AD31333002GOU 2048MB DS A-Data AD30908C8D-151C E0903 • • •
A-Data AD31333G002GMU 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-24 1.65-
Apacer 78.A1GC6.9L1 2048MB DS Apacer AM5D5808AEWSBG0908D 9 • • •
Corsair CM3X1024-1333C9DHX 1024MB SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24 1.60V • • •
Corsair CM3X1024-1333C9 1024MB SS N/A Heat-Sink Package • • •
Corsair TR3X3G1333C9 G 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24 1.50V • • •
Corsair TR3X3G1333C9 G 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24 1.50V • • •
Corsair TR3X3G1333C9 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9 1.5V • • •
Corsair CM3X1024-1333C9DHX 1024MB DS Corsair Heat-Sink Package • • •
Corsair CM3X2048-1333C9DHX 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package • • •
Corsair TW3X4G1333C9 G 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24 1.50V • • •
Crucial CT12864BA1339.8FF 1024MB SS Micron 9FF22D9KPT 9 • • •
Crucial CT12872BA1339.9FF 1024MB SS Micron 91F22D9KPT(ECC) 9 • • •
Crucial BL12864TA1336.8SFB1 2048MB(Kit of 2) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 6-6-6-20 1.8V • • •
Crucial CT12864BA1339.8SFD 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS Micron 8XD22D9JNM 9 • • •
Crucial CT25664BA1339.16FF 2048MB DS Micron 9KF27D9KPT 9 • • •
Crucial CT25672BA1339.18FF 2048MB DS Micron 91F22D9KPT(ECC) 9 • • •
SS/
Brand Chip NO.
DS
Timing
DIMM
(BIOS)
(continued on the next page)
1-16 Chapter 1: Product introduction
DDR3 1333 MHz capability
Voltage
voltage)
DIMM
Support
A* B* C*
• • •
Vendor Part No. Size
Crucial BL25664ABA1336.16SFB1 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 6-6-6-20 1.8V • •
Crucial BL25664BA1336.16SFB1 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 6-6-6-20 1.8V • • •
Crucial BL25664BN1337.16FF
(XMP)
Crucial CT25664BA1339.16SFD 6144MB(Kit of 3 ) DS Micron 8UD22D9JNM 9 • •
G.SKILL F3-10600CL8D-2GBHK 1024MB SS G.SKILL Heat-Sink Package • • •
G.SKILL F3-10600CL9D-2GBPK 1024MB SS G.SKILL Heat-Sink Package • • •
G.SKILL F3-10666CL7T-3GBPK 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-18 1.5~1.6V • •
G.SKILL F3-10666CL9T-3GBNQ 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24 1.5~1.6V • • •
G.SKILL F3-10600CL7D-2GBPI 1024MB DS G.SKILL Heat-Sink Package • • •
G.SKILL F3-10600CL9D-2GBNQ 1024MB DS G.SKILL Heat-Sink Package • • •
G.SkiLL F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK 4096MB(Kit of 2 ) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-21 1.5-1.6V • • •
G.SKILL F3-10666CL7T-6GBPK 6144MB(Kit of 3 ) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-18 1.5~1.6V • • •
G.SKILL F3-10666CL9T-6GBNQ 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-24 1.5V~1.6V • • •
GEIL DDR3-1333 CL9-9-9-24 1024MB SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9 • • •
GEIL GV34GB1333C7DC 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-24 1.5V • • •
GEIL GG34GB1333C9DC 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS GEIL GL1L128M88BA12N 9-9-9-24 1.3V(low
GEIL DDR3-1333 CL9-9-9-24 6144MB(Kit of 3 ) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9 1.5V • • •
Kingmax FLFD45F-B8MF9 1024MB SS Micron 8HD22D9JNM • •
Kingmax FLFD45F-B8MH9 MAES 1024MB SS Micron 9CF22D9KPT • • •
Kingmax FLFE85F-B8MF9 2048MB DS Micron 8HD22D9JNM • •
Kingmax FLFE85F-B8MH9 MEES 2048MB DS Micron 9GF27D9KPT • • •
Kingston KVR1333D3N9/1G 1024MB SS Hynix H5TQ1G83BFR 9 1.5V • • •
Kingston KVR1333D3N9/2G 2048MB DS Qimonda IDSH1G-03A1F1C-13H 1.5V • • •
Micron MT8JTF12864AY-1G4D1 1024MB SS Micron 8LD22D9JNM • • •
Micron MT8JTF12864AZ-1G4F1 1024MB SS Micron 9FF22D9KPT 9 • • •
Micron MT9JSF 12872AZ-1G4F1 1024MB SS Micron 91F22D9KPT(ECC) 9 • • •
Micron MT8JTF12864AY-1G4D1 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS Micron 8XD22D9JNM 9 • • •
Micron MT12JSF25672AZ-1G4F1 2048MB DS Micron 91F22D9KPT(ECC) 9 • • •
Micron MT16JTF25664AY-1G1D1 2048MB DS Micron 8LD22 D9JNM • •
Micron MT18JTF25664AZ-1G4F1 2048MB DS Micron 9KF27D9KPT 9 • • •
Micron MT16JTF25664AY-1G4D1 6144MB(Kit of 3) DS Micron 8UD22D9JNM 9 • •
OCZ OCZ3P13332GK 2048MB(Kit of 2) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-20 1.8V • •
OCZ OCZ3X1333LV3GK(XMP) 3072MB(Kit of 3) SS N/A Heat-Sink Package 1.6V • •
OCZ OCZ3G13334GK 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 1.7V • • •
OCZ OCZ3RPX1333EB4GK 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 6-5-5-20 1.85V • • •
OCZ OCZ3X13334GK(XMP) 4096MB(Kit of 2) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 1.75V • • •
OCZ OCZ3G1333LV6GK 6144MB(Kit of 3 ) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 9-9-9-20 1.65V • • •
OCZ OCZ3P1333LV6GK 6144MB(Kit of 3 ) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-20 1.65V • • •
OCZ OCZ3X1333LV6GK(XMP) 6144MB(Kit of 3 ) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 8-8-8-20 1.60V • • •
SAMSUNG M378B2873DZ1-CH9 1024MB SS Samsung K4B1G0846D-HCH9 • • •
SAMSUNG M378B2873DZ1-CH9 1024MB SS Samsung SEC 846 HCH9 K4B1G08460 • • •
SAMSUNG M378B2873EH1-CH9 1024MB SS Samsung SEC 913 HCH9 K4B1G0846E • • •
SAMSUNG M391B2873DZ1-CH9 1024MB SS Samsung K4B1G0846D-HCH9(ECC) • • •
SAMSUNG M378B5673DZ1-CH9 2048MB DS Samsung K4B1G0846D-HCH9 • • •
SAMSUNG M378B5673EH1-CH9 2048MB DS Samsung SEC 913 HCH9 K4B1G0846E • • •
6144MB(Kit of 3 ) DS N/A Heat-Sink Package 7-7-7-24 1.65V • • •
SS/
Brand Chip NO.
DS
Timing
DIMM
(BIOS)
(continued on the next page)
ASUS P7P55-M 1-17
DDR3 1333 MHz capability
Voltage
DIMM
Support
A* B* C*
Vendor Part No. Size
SAMSUNG M391B5673DZ1-CH9 2048MB DS Samsung K4B1G0846D-HCH9(ECC) • • •
Super Talent W1333X2GB8 1024MB SS N/A Heat-Sink Package • • •
Transcend TS128MLK64V3U 1024MB SS N/A SEC 813HCH9 K4B1G0846D • •
Transcend TS128MLK72V3U 1024MB SS N/A K4B1G0846D(ECC) • • •
Transcend TS256MLK64V3U 2048MB DS Micron 9GF27D9KPT • • •
Transcend TS256MLK64V3U 2048MB DS N/A SEC816HCH9K4B1G0846D • • •
Kingtiger 2GB DIMM PC3-10666 2048MB DS Samsung SEC 904 HCH9 K4B1G0846D • • •
Kingtiger KTG2G1333PG3 2048MB DS N/A Heat-Sink Package • • •
SS/
Brand Chip NO.
DS
Timing
DIMM
(BIOS)
SS - Single-sided / DS - Double-sided DIMM support:
• A*: Supports one module inserted into any slot as Single-channel memory conguration.
• B*: Supports one pair of modules inserted into either the blue or black slots as one pair
of Dual-channel memory conguration.
• C*: Supports four modules inserted into both the blue and black slots as two pairs of
Dual-channel memory conguration.
• ASUS exclusively provides hyper DIMM support function.
• Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual CPUs.
• According to Intel spec denition, DDR3-1600 is supported for one DIMM per channel
only. ASUS exclusively provides two DDR3-1600 DIMM support for each memory channel.
• Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com for the latest QVL.
1-18 Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.7.3 Installing a DIMM

Unplug the power supply before adding or removing DIMMs or other system components. Failure to do so can cause severe damage to both the motherboard and the components.
To install a DIMM:
1. Press the retaining clips outward to unlock a DIMM socket.
2. Align a DIMM on the socket such that
the notch on the DIMM matches the break on the socket.
A DIMM is keyed with a notch so that it ts in only one direction. DO NOT force a DIMM into
a socket to avoid damaging the DIMM.
3. Firmly insert the DIMM into the socket until the retaining clips snap back in place and the DIMM is properly seated.

1.7.4 Removing a DIMM

To remove a DIMM:
1. Simultaneously press the retaining clips outward to unlock the DIMM.
2
DIMM notch
1
Unlocked retaining clip
3
Locked Retaining Clip
2
Support the DIMM lightly with
your ngers when pressing the
retaining clips. The DIMM might
get damaged when it ips out with
extra force.
DIMM notch
1
2. Remove the DIMM from the socket.
ASUS P7P55-M 1-19

1.8 Expansion slots

In the future, you may need to install expansion cards. The following sub-sections describe the slots and the expansion cards that they support.
Unplug the power cord before adding or removing expansion cards. Failure to do so may cause you physical injury and damage motherboard components.

1.8.1 Installing an expansion card

To install an expansion card:
1. Before installing the expansion card, read the documentation that came with it and make the necessary hardware settings for the card.
2. Remove the system unit cover (if your motherboard is already installed in a chassis).
3. Remove the bracket opposite the slot that you intend to use. Keep the screw for later use.
4. Align the card connector with the slot and press rmly until the card is completely
seated on the slot.
5. Secure the card to the chassis with the screw you removed earlier.
6. Replace the system cover.
1.8.2 Conguring an expansion card
After installing the expansion card, congure it by adjusting the software settings.
1. Turn on the system and change the necessary BIOS settings, if any. See Chapter 2 for
information on BIOS setup.
2. Assign an IRQ to the card.
3. Install the software drivers for the expansion card.
When using PCI cards on shared slots, ensure that the drivers support “Share IRQ” or that
the cards do not need IRQ assignments. Otherwise, conicts will arise between the two PCI
groups, making the system unstable and the card inoperable.

1.8.3 PCI slot

The PCI slot supports cards such as a LAN card, SCSI card, USB card, and other cards that
comply with PCI specications.

1.8.4 PCI Express x1 slots

This motherboard supports PCI Express x1 network cards, SCSI cards, and other cards that
comply with the PCI Express specications.

1.8.5 PCI Express x16 slot

This motherboard has one PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot that supports PCI Express x16 2.0 graphic cards complying with the PCI Express specications.
Refer to section 1.5.3 Motherboard Layout for the location of the expansion slots.
1-20 Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.9 Jumpers

P7P55-M
P7P55-M Clear RTC RAM
1
2 2 3
Normal
(Default)
Clear RTC
CLRTC
1. Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC)
This jumper allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS. You can clear the CMOS memory of date, time, and system setup parameters by erasing the CMOS RTC RAM data. The onboard button cell battery powers the RAM data in CMOS, which include system setup information such as system passwords.
To erase the RTC RAM:
1. Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord.
2. Move the jumper cap from pins 1-2 (default) to pins 2-3. Keep the cap on pins 2-3 for about 5-10 seconds, then move the cap back to pins 1-2.
3. Plug the power cord and turn ON the computer.
4. Hold down the <Del> key during the boot process and enter BIOS setup to re-enter data.
ASUS P7P55-M 1-21
Except when clearing the RTC RAM, never remove the cap on CLRTC jumper default position. Removing the cap will cause system boot failure!
• If the steps above do not help, remove the onboard battery and move the jumper again to clear the CMOS RTC RAM data. After the CMOS clearance, reinstall the battery.
• You do not need to clear the RTC when the system hangs due to overclocking. For system failure due to overclocking, use the CPU Parameter Recall (C.P.R.) feature. Shut down and reboot the system, then the BIOS automatically resets parameter settings to default values.
• Due to the chipset limitation, AC power off is required before you use the C.P.R. function. You must turn off and on the power supply or unplug and plug the power cord before rebooting the system.
2. Keyboard power (3-pin KBPWR)
P7P55-M
P7P55-M Keyboard Power Setting
21
2 3
+5V
(Default)
+5VSB
KBPWR
P7P55-M
P7P55-M USB Device Wake Up
21
2 3
+5V
(Default)
+5VSB
USBPW1-8
21
2 3
+5V
+5VSB
(Default)
USBPW9-14
This jumper allows you to enable or disable the keyboard wake-up feature. When you
set this jumper to pins 2–3 (+5VSB), you can wake up the computer by pressing a key
on the keyboard (the default is the Space Bar). This feature requires an ATX power supply that can supply at least 1A on the +5VSB lead, and a corresponding setting in the BIOS.
3. USB device wake-up (3-pin USBPW1-8, 3-pin USBPW9-14)
Set these jumpers to +5V to wake up the computer from S1 sleep mode (CPU stopped, DRAM refreshed, system running in low power mode) using the connected USB devices. Set to +5VSB to wake up from S3 and S4 sleep modes (no power to CPU, DRAM in slow refresh, power supply in reduced power mode).
• The USB device wake-up feature requires a power supply that can provide 500mA on
the +5VSB lead for each USB port; otherwise, the system would not power up.
• The total current consumed must NOT exceed the power supply capability (+5VSB) whether under normal condition or in sleep mode.
1-22 Chapter 1: Product introduction

1.11 Connectors

4
11
2
13
3
12
1
14
5 6 7 8
910

1.11.1 Rear panel connectors

1. PS/2 Keyboard / Mouse port (purple). This port is for a PS/2 keyboard / mouse.
2. Serial port. This 9-pin COM port is for serial devices.
3. IEEE1394 port. This 6-pin IEEE 1394a port provides high-speed connectivity for audio/
video devices, storage peripherals, PCs, or portable devices.
4. LAN (RJ-45) port. This port allows Gigabit connection to a Local Area Network (LAN)
through a network hub. Refer to the table below for the LAN port LED indications.
LAN port LED indications
LED
LAN port
SPEED
LED
ACT/LINK LED SPEED LED
ACT/LINK
Status Description Status Description
OFF No link OFF 10 Mbps connection
ORANGE Linked ORANGE 100 Mbps connection
BLINKING Data activity GREEN 1 Gbps connection
5. Center / Subwoofer port (orange). This port connects the center/subwoofer speakers.
6. Rear Speaker Out port (black). This port connects the rear speakers in a 4-channel,
6-channel, or 8-channel audio conguration.
7. Line In port (light blue). This port connects the tape, CD, DVD player, or other audio
sources.
8. Line Out port (lime). This port connects a headphone or a speaker. In 4-channel, 6-
channel, and 8-channel congurations, the function of this port becomes Front Speaker
Out.
9. Microphone port (pink). This port connects a microphone.
10. Side Speaker Out port (gray). This port connects the side speaker in an 8-channel
audio conguration.
Refer to the audio conguration table on the next page for the function of the audio ports in 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel conguration.
ASUS P7P55-M 1-23
Audio 2, 4, 6, or 8-channel conguration
P7P55-M
P7P55-M Analog front panel connector
AAFP
PIN 1
GND
PRESENCE#
SENSE1_RETUR
SENSE2_RETUR
PORT1 L
PORT1 R
PORT2 R
SENSE_SEND
PORT2 L
HD-audio-compliant
pin definition
PIN 1
AGNDNCNC
NC
MIC2
MICPWR
Line out_R
NC
Line out_L
Legacy AC’97
compliant definition
Port Headset 2-channel 4-channel 6-channel 8-channel
Light Blue Line In Line in Line in Line in
Lime Line Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out Front Speaker Out
Pink Mic In Mic In Mic in Mic in
Orange - - Center/Subwoofer Center/Subwoofer
Black - Rear Speaker Out Rear Speaker Out Rear Speaker Out
Gray - - - Side Speaker Out
11. USB 2.0 ports 1 and 2. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are
available for connecting USB 2.0 devices.
12. USB 2.0 ports 3 and 4. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are
available for connecting USB 2.0 devices.
13. USB 2.0 ports 5 and 6. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are
available for connecting USB 2.0 devices.
14. USB 2.0 ports 7 and 8. These two 4-pin Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are
available for connecting USB 2.0 devices.

1.11.2 Internal connectors

1. Front panel audio connector (10-1 pin AAFP)
This connector is for a chassis-mounted front panel audio I/O module that supports
either HD Audio or legacy AC`97 audio standard. Connect one end of the front panel
audio I/O module cable to this connector.
• We recommend that you connect a high-denition front panel audio module to this connector to avail of the motherboard’s high-denition audio capability.
If you want to connect a high-denition front panel audio module to this connector, set the Front Panel Type item in the BIOS setup to [HD Audio]. If you want to connect an AC'97 front panel audio module to this connector, set the item to [AC97]. By default, this connector is set to [HD Audio]. See section 2.5.3 Onboard Devices Conguration for details.
1-24 Chapter 1: Product introduction
2. IDE connector (40-1 pin PRI_EIDE)
P7P55-M IDE connector
P7P55-M
PRI_EIDE
NOTE:Orient the red markings on the IDE ribbon cable to PIN 1.
PIN1
The onboard IDE connector is for the Ultra DMA 133/100/66 signal cable. There are three connectors on each Ultra DMA 133/100/66 signal cable: blue, black, and gray.
Connect the blue connector to the motherboard’s IDE connector, then select one of the following modes to congure your device.
Drive jumper setting Mode of device(s) Cable connector
Single device Cable-Select or Master - Black
Cable-Select
Two devices
Master Master
Slave Slave
• Pin 20 on the IDE connector is removed to match the covered hole on the Ultra DMA
cable connector. This prevents incorrect insertion when you connect the IDE cable.
• Use the 80-conductor IDE cable for Ultra DMA 133/100/66 IDE devices.
Master Black
Slave Gray
Black or gray
ASUS P7P55-M 1-25
If any device jumper is set as “Cable-Select,” ensure that all other device jumpers have the same setting.
3. ATX power connectors (24-pin EATXPWR, 4-pin ATX12V)
P7P55-M
P7P55-M ATX power connectors
EATXPWR
PIN 1
GND +5 Volts +5 Volts +5 Volts
-5 Volts GND GND GND PSON# GND
-12 Volts +3 Volts
+3 Volts +12 Volts +12 Volts
+5V Standby
Power OK
GND
+5 Volts
GND
+5 Volts
GND +3 Volts +3 Volts
ATX12V
PIN 1
+12V DC
+12V DC
GND
GND
P7P55-M
SPDIF_OUT
+5V
SPDIFOUT
GND
P7P55-M Digital audio connector
These connectors are for ATX power supply plugs. The power supply plugs are
designed to t these connectors in only one orientation. Find the proper orientation and push down rmly until the connectors completely t.
• For a fully congured system, we recommend that you use a power supply unit (PSU) that complies with ATX 12 V Specication 2.0 (or later version) and provides a minimum
power of 400 W.
DO NOT forget to connect the 4-pin ATX +12V power plug. Otherwise, the system will
not boot up.
If you are uncertain about the minimum power supply requirement for your system, refer to the Recommended Power Supply Wattage Calculator at http://support.asus. com/PowerSupplyCalculator/PSCalculator.aspx?SLanguage=en-us for details.
4. Digital audio connector (4-1 pin SPDIF_OUT)
This connector is for an additional Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) port. Connect the S/PDIF Out module cable to this connector, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system chassis.
The S/PDIF module is purchased separately.
1-26 Chapter 1: Product introduction
5. CPU and chassis fan connectors (4-pin CPU_FAN, 3-pin CHA_FAN)
CPU_FAN
CPU FAN PWM
CPU FAN IN
CPU FAN PWR
GND
P7P55-M
P7P55-M fan connectors
Rotation
+12V
GND
CHA_FAN
P7P55-M
P7P55-M USB2.0 connectors
PIN 1
USB+5V
USB_P10-
USB_P10+
GND
NC
USB+5V
USB_P9-
USB_P9+
GND
USB910
PIN 1
USB+5V
USB_P14-
USB_P14+
GND
NC
USB+5V
USB_P13-
USB_P13+
GND
USB1314
PIN 1
USB+5V
USB_P12-
USB_P12+
GND
NC
USB+5V
USB_P11-
USB_P11+
GND
USB1112
Connect the fan cables to the fan connectors on the motherboard, ensuring that the black wire of each cable matches the ground pin of the connector.
Do not forget to connect the fan cables to the fan connectors. Insufcient air ow inside the
system may damage the motherboard components. These are not jumpers! Do not place jumper caps on the fan connectors!
Only the 4-pin CPU fan supports the ASUS Q-FAN feature.
6. USB connectors (10-1 pin USB910, USB1112, USB1314)
These connectors are for USB 2.0 ports. Connect the USB module cable to any of
these connectors, then install the module to a slot opening at the back of the system
chassis. These USB connectors comply with USB 2.0 specication that supports up to
480 Mbps connection speed.
Never connect a 1394 cable to the USB connectors. Doing so will damage the
motherboard!
The USB module cable is purchased separately.
ASUS P7P55-M 1-27
7. Serial ATA connectors (7-pin SATA1-6)
SATA5
GND
RSATA_RXN5
RSATA_RXP5
GND
RSATA_TXN5
RSATA_TXP5
GND
SATA3
GND
RSATA_RXN3
RSATA_RXP3
GND
RSATA_TXN3
RSATA_TXP3
GND
SATA1
GND
RSATA_RXN1
RSATA_RXP1
GND
RSATA_TXN1
RSATA_TXP1
GND
SATA6
GND
RSATA_RXN6
RSATA_RXP6
GND
RSATA_TXN6
RSATA_TXP6
GND
SATA4
GND
RSATA_RXN4
RSATA_RXP4
GND
RSATA_TXN4
RSATA_TXP4
GND
SATA2
GND
RSATA_RXN2
RSATA_RXP2
GND
RSATA_TXN2
RSATA_TXP2
GND
P7P55-M
P7P55-M SATA connectors
P7P55-M
P7P55-M Parallel port connector
LPT
PIN 1
STB#
PD0
PD1
PD2
PD3
PD4
PD5
PD6
PD7
ACK#
BUSY
PE
SLCT
AFD
ERR#
INIT#
SLIN#
GND
GND
GND
GND
GND
GND
GND
GND
These connectors are for the Serial ATA signal cables for Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard disk and optical disk drives. The Serial ATA 3Gb/s is backward compatible with Serial ATA
1.5Gb/s specication. The data transfer rate of the Serial ATA 3Gb/s is faster than the
standard parallel ATA with 133 MB/s (Ultra DMA133).
• These connectors are set to Standard IDE mode by default. In Standard IDE mode, you
can connect Serial ATA boot/data hard disk drives to these connectors. If you intend to create a Serial ATA RAID set using these connectors, set the Congure SATA as item in the BIOS to [RAID].
• Before creating a RAID set, refer to the RAID Supplementary Guide included in the
folder named Manual in the support DVD.
• You must install Windows® XP Service Pack 2 or later version before using Serial ATA
hard disk drives. The Serial ATA RAID feature (RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10) is available only if you are using Windows® XP SP2 or later version.
• When using hot-plug and NCQ, set the Congure SATA as item in the BIOS to [AHCI].
See section Storage Conguration for details.
8. LPT connector (26-1 pin LPT)
The LPT (Line Printing Terminal) connector supports devices such as a printer. LPT
standardizes as IEEE 1284, which is the parallel port interface on IBM PC-compatible
computers.
1-28 Chapter 1: Product introduction
9. System panel connector (20-8 pin PANEL)
P7P55-M
PIN 1
* Requires an ATX power supply
PLED SPEAKER
PLED+
PLED-
+5V
Ground
Ground
Speaker
IDE_LED+
IDE_LED-
PWR
Ground
Reset
Ground
PANEL
IDE_LED PWRSW RESET
P7P55-M System panel connector
This connector supports several chassis-mounted functions.
System power LED (2-pin PLED)
This 2-pin connector is for the system power LED. Connect the chassis power LED
cable to this connector. The system power LED lights up when you turn on the system power, and blinks when the system is in sleep mode.
Hard disk drive activity LED (2-pin IDE_LED)
This 2-pin connector is for the HDD Activity LED. Connect the HDD Activity LED cable to this connector. The IDE LED lights up or ashes when data is read from or written to
the HDD.
System warning speaker (4-pin SPEAKER)
This 4-pin connector is for the chassis-mounted system warning speaker. The speaker allows you to hear system beeps and warnings.
ATX power button/soft-off button (2-pin PWRSW)
This connector is for the system power button. Pressing the power button turns the system on or puts the system in sleep or soft-off mode depending on the BIOS settings. Pressing the power switch for more than four seconds while the system is ON turns the system OFF.
Reset button (2-pin RESET)
This 2-pin connector is for the chassis-mounted reset button for system reboot without
turning off the system power.
ASUS P7P55-M 1-29

1.12 Software support

1.12.1 Installing an operating system

This motherboard supports Windows® XP / Vista / 7 Operating Systems (OS). Always install
the latest OS version and corresponding updates to maximize the features of your hardware.
• Motherboard settings and hardware options vary. Refer to your OS documentation for detailed information.
• Ensure that you install Windows® XP Service Pack 3 or later versions / Windows® Vista Service Pack 1 or later versions before installing the drivers for better compatibility and system stability.

1.12.2 Support DVD information

The Support DVD that comes with the motherboard package contains the drivers, software applications, and utilities that you can install to avail all motherboard features.
The contents of the Support DVD are subject to change at any time without notice. Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com for updates.
To run the Support DVD
Place the Support DVD to the optical drive. The DVD automatically displays the Drivers menu if Autorun is enabled in your computer.
The following screen is for reference only.
Click an icon to display Support DVD/ motherboard information
Click an item to install
If Autorun is NOT enabled in your computer, browse the contents of the Support DVD to
locate the le ASSETUP.EXE from the BIN folder. Double-click the ASSETUP.EXE to run
the DVD.
1-30 Chapter 1: Product introduction
Chapter 2

BIOS information

2.1 Managing and updating your BIOS

Save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS le to a USB ash disk in case you need to
restore the BIOS in the future. Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update utility.

2.1.1 ASUS Update utility

The ASUS Update is a utility that allows you to manage, save, and update the motherboard BIOS in Windows® environment.
• ASUS Update requires an Internet connection either through a network or an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
• This utility is available in the support DVD that comes with the motherboard package.
Installing ASUS Update
To install ASUS Update:
1. Place the support DVD in the optical drive. The Drivers menu appears.
2. Click the Utilities tab, then click Install ASUS Update.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
Quit all Windows® applications before you update the BIOS using this utility.
Updating the BIOS
To update the BIOS:
1. From the Windows® desktop, click Start > Programs > ASUS > ASUSUpdate >
ASUSUpdate to launch the ASUS Update utility.
2. From the dropdown list, select any of the updating process:
ASUS P7P55-M 2-1
Updating from the Internet
a. Select Update BIOS from the Internet, then click Next.
b. Select the ASUS FTP site nearest you to avoid network trafc, or click Auto
Select then click Next.
c. From the FTP site, select the BIOS version that you wish to download then click
Next.
The ASUS Update utility is capable of updating itself through the Internet. Always update the utility to avail all its features.
Updating from a BIOS file
a. Select Update BIOS from a le, then click Next.
b. Locate the BIOS le from the Open window, then click Open.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the updating process.

2.1.2 ASUS EZ Flash 2 utility

The ASUS EZ Flash 2 feature allows you to update the BIOS without using an OS-based
utility.
To update the BIOS using EZ Flash 2:
1. Insert the USB ash disk that contains the latest BIOS le to the USB port, then launch EZ Flash 2 in any of these two ways:
Press <Alt> + <F2> during POST.
• Enter the BIOS setup program. Go to the Tools menu to select EZ Flash 2 and
press <Enter> to enable it. Press <Tab> to switch between drives until the correct BIOS le is found.
ASUSTek EZ Flash 2 BIOS ROM Utility V4.06
FLASH TYPE: MXIC 25L1605A
Current ROM
BOARD: P7P55-M VER: 0202 (H:00 B:01) DATE: 09/11/2009
PATH: A:\
A:
Note
[Enter] Select or Load [Tab] Switch [V] Drive Info [Up/Down/Home/End] Move [B] Backup [ESC] Exit
2-2 Chapter 2: BIOS information
Update ROM
BOARD: Unknown VER: Unknown DATE: Unknown
2. When the correct BIOS le is found, EZ Flash 2 performs the BIOS update process
and automatically reboots the system when done.
• Only a USB ash disk with FAT 32/16 format and single partition can support the ASUS
EZ Flash 2 utility.
• Do not shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent system boot failure!

2.1.3 ASUS CrashFree BIOS

The ASUS CrashFree BIOS is an auto recovery tool that allows you to restore the BIOS le
when it fails or gets corrupted during the updating process. You can restore a corrupted BIOS
le using the motherboard support DVD or a removable device that contains the updated BIOS le.
• Before using this utility, rename the BIOS le in the removable device into
P7P55M.ROM.
• The BIOS le in the support DVD may not be the latest version. Download the latest BIOS le from the ASUS website at www.asus.com.
• The removable device that ASUS CrashFree BIOS support vary with motherboard
models. For motherboards without the oppy connector, prepare a USB ash disk before
using this utility.
Recovering the BIOS
To recover the BIOS:
1. Turn on the system.
2. Insert the support DVD to the optical drive or the removable device that contains the BIOS le to the USB port or to the oppy disk drive, if supported.
3. The utility automatically checks the devices for the BIOS le. When found, the utility reads the BIOS le and starts ashing the corrupted BIOS le.
4. Turn off the system after the utility completes the updating process and turn on again.
DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS! Doing so can cause system boot failure!
Ensure to load the BIOS default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability. Select the Load Setup Defaults item under the Exit menu. Refer to section 2.9 Exit Menu for details.
ASUS P7P55-M 2-3

2.1.4 ASUS BIOS Updater

The ASUS BIOS Updater allows you to update BIOS in DOS environment. This utility also
allows you to copy the current BIOS le that you can use as a backup when the BIOS fails or
gets corrupted during the updating process.
The succeeding utility screens are for reference only. The actual utility screen displays may not be same as shown.
Before updating BIOS
1. Prepare the motherboard support DVD and a USB ash drive in FAT32/16 format and
single partition.
2. Download the latest BIOS le and BIOS Updater from the ASUS website at http:// support.asus.com and save them on the USB ash drive.
• NTFS is not supported under DOS environment. Do not save the BIOS le and BIOS Updater to a hard disk drive or USB ash drive in NTFS format.
• Do not save the BIOS le to a oppy disk due to low disk capacity.
3. Turn off the computer and disconnect all SATA hard disk drives (optional).
Booting the system in DOS environment
1. Insert the USB ash drive with the latest BIOS le and BIOS Updater to the USB port.
2. Boot your computer. When the ASUS Logo appears, press <F8> to show the BIOS
Boot Device Select Menu. Insert the support DVD into the optical drive and select the optical drive as the boot device.
Please select boot device:
SATA:XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
CDROM:XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
USB:XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Network:XXXXXXXXXXXXX
and to move selection
ENTER to select boot device
ESC to boot using defaults
3. When the Make Disk menu appears, select the FreeDOS command prompt item by pressing the item number.
4. At the FreeDOS prompt, type d: and press <Enter> to switch the disk from
Drive C (optical drive) to Drive D (USB ash drive).
Welcome to FreeDOS (http://www.freedos.org)! C:\>d: D:\>
2-4 Chapter 2: BIOS information
Backing up the current BIOS
To backup the current BIOS le using the BIOS Updater
Ensure that the USB ash drive is not write-protected and has at least 1024KB free space to save the le.
1. At the FreeDOS prompt, type bupdater /o[lename] and press <Enter>.
D:\>bupdater /oOLDBIOS1.rom
Filename Extension
The [lename] is any user-assigned lename with no more than eight alphanumeric
characters for the lename and three alphanumeric characters for the extension.
2. The BIOS Updater backup screen appears indicating the BIOS backup process. When
BIOS backup is done, press any key to return to the DOS prompt.
ASUSTek BIOS Updater for DOS V1.00b [09/06/22]
FLASH TYPE:MXIC 25L1605A
Current ROM
BOARD: P7P55-M VER: 0202 DATE: 09/11/2009
PATH: A:\
BIOS backup is done! Press any key to continue.
Note
Saving BIOS:
Update ROM
BOARD: Unknown VER: Unknown DATE: Unknown
ASUS P7P55-M 2-5
Updating the BIOS le
To update the BIOS le using BIOS Updater
1. At the FreeDOS prompt, type bupdater /pc /g and press <Enter>.
D:\>bupdater /pc /g
2. The BIOS Updater screen appears as below.
ASUSTek BIOS Updater for DOS V1.00b [09/06/22]
FLASH TYPE: MXIC 25L1605A
Current ROM
BOARD: P7P55-M VER: 0202 DATE: 09/11/2009
PATH: A:\
A:
Note
[Enter] Select or Load [Tab] Switch [V] Drive Info [Up/Down/Home/End] Move [B] Backup [Esc] Exit
P7P5 5M.RO M 20 97152 2 009-09 -23 17:30:48
3. Press <Tab> to switch between screen elds and use the <Up/Down/Home/End> keys to select the BIOS le and press <Enter>. BIOS Updater checks the selected BIOS le and prompts you to conrm BIOS update.
Are you sure to update BIOS?
Yes No
Update ROM
BOARD: Unknown VER: Unknown DATE: Unknown
4. Select Yes and press <Enter>. When BIOS update is done, press <ESC> to exit BIOS
Updater. Restart your computer.
DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent system boot failure!
• For BIOS Updater version 1.04 or later, the utility automatically exits to the DOS prompt after updating BIOS.
• Ensure to load the BIOS default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability. Select the Load Setup Defaults item under the Exit BIOS menu. See section 2.9 Exit menu for details.
• Ensure to connect all SATA hard disk drives after updating the BIOS le if you have
disconnected them.
2-6 Chapter 2: BIOS information

2.2 BIOS setup program

Use the BIOS Setup program to update the BIOS or congure its parameters. The BIOS
screens include navigation keys and brief online help to guide you in using the BIOS Setup program.
Entering BIOS Setup at startup
To enter BIOS Setup at startup:
Press <Delete> during the Power-On Self Test (POST). If you do not press <Delete>, POST continues with its routines.
Entering BIOS Setup after POST
To enter BIOS Setup after POST:
Press <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> simultaneously.
Press the reset button on the system chassis.
Press the power button to turn the system off then back on. Do this option only if you
failed to enter BIOS Setup using the rst two options.
Using the power button, reset button, or the <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> keys to force reset from a running operating system can cause damage to your data or system. We recommend to always shut down the system properly from the operating system.
• The default BIOS settings for this motherboard apply for most conditions to ensure optimum performance. If the system becomes unstable after changing any BIOS settings, load the default settings to ensure system compatibility and stability. Select the Load Setups Default item under the Exit Menu. See section 2.9 Exit Menu.
• The BIOS setup screens shown in this section are for reference purposes only, and may not exactly match what you see on your screen.
• Visit the ASUS website at www.asus.com to download the latest BIOS le for this
motherboard.
ASUS P7P55-M 2-7

2.3 Main menu

When you enter the BIOS Setup program, the Main menu screen appears, giving you an overview of the basic system information.
Main Ai Tweaker Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
System Time [00:31:48]
System Date [Fri 04/10/2009] Language [English]
SATA 1 :[Not Detected] SATA 2 :[Not Detected] SATA 3 :[Not Detected] SATA 4 :[Not Detected] SATA 5 :[Not Detected] SATA 6 :[Not Detected]
Storage Conguration
System Information
v02.61 (C)Copyright 1985-2009, American Megatrends, Inc.

2.3.1 System Time [xx:xx:xx]

Allows you to set the system time.

2.3.2 System Date [Day xx/xx/xxxx]

Allows you to set the system date.

2.3.3 Language [English]

Allows you to choose the display language in BIOS. Conguration options: [繁體中文] [简体中文] [日本] [Français] [Deutsch] [English]

2.3.3 SATA 1-6

While entering Setup, the BIOS automatically detects the presence of SATA devices. There is a separate sub-menu for each SATA device. Select a device item then press <Enter> to display the SATA device information.
The BIOS automatically detects the values opposite the dimmed items (Device, Vendor, Size,
LBA Mode, Block Mode, PIO Mode, Async DMA, Ultra DMA, and SMART Monitoring). These
values are not user-congurable. These items show N/A if no Serial ATA device is installed in
the system.
Type [Auto]
Selects the type of SATA drive. Setting to [Auto] allows automatic selection of the appropriate
SATA device type. Select [CDROM] if you are specically conguring a CD-ROM drive. Select [ARMD] (ATAPI Removable Media Device) if your device is either a ZIP, LS-120, or MO drive. Conguration options: [Not Installed] [Auto] [CDROM] [ARMD]
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Use [ENTER], [TAB] or [SHIFT-TAB] to select
a eld.
Use [+] or [-] to
congure system time.
Select Screen
Select Item +- Change Field Tab Select Field F1 General Help F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit
This item does not appear if you select SATA 5/6 devices.
2-8 Chapter 2: BIOS information
LBA/Large Mode [Auto]
Enables or disables the LBA mode. Setting to [Auto] enables the LBA mode if the device supports this mode, and if the device was not previously formatted with LBA mode disabled.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
Block (Multi-sector Transfer) M [Auto]
Enables or disables data multi-sectors transfers. When set to [Auto], the data transfer from and to the device occurs multiple sectors at a time if the device supports multi-sector transfer feature. When set to [Disabled], the data transfer from and to the device occurs one sector
at a time. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Auto]
PIO Mode [Auto]
Selects the PIO mode. Conguration options: [Auto] [0] [1] [2] [3] [4]
DMA Mode [Auto]
Selects the DMA mode. Conguration options: [Auto]
SMART Monitoring [Auto]
Sets the Smart Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology.
Conguration options: [Auto] [Disabled] [Enabled]
32Bit Data Transfer [Enabled]
Enables or disables 32-bit data transfer. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.3.4 Storage Conguration
The items in this menu allow you to set or change the congurations for the SATA devices installed in the system. Select an item then press <Enter> if you want to congure the item.
SATA Conguration [Enhanced]
Allows you to set the SATA conguration. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Compatible]
[Enhanced]
Configure SATA as [IDE]
Sets the conguration for the Serial ATA connectors supported by the Southbridge chip. Conguration options: [IDE] [RAID] [AHCI]
Due to Intel chipset driver support regulation, the AHCI mode is not supported in Windows XP environment. The AHCI mode is only supported by Windows Vista with OS built-in driver.
Hard Disk Write Protect [Disabled]
Disables or enables device write protection. This will be effective only if device is accessed
throuh BIOS. Conguration option: [Disabled] [Enabled]
IDE Detect Time Out (Sec) [35]
Selects the time out value for detecting ATA/ATAPI devices.
Conguration options: [0] [5] [10] [15] [20] [25] [30] [35]
ASUS P7P55-M 2-9

2.3.5 System Information

This menu gives you an overview of the general system specications. The BIOS
automatically detects the items in this menu.
Bios Information
Displays the auto-detected BIOS information.
Processor
Displays the auto-detected CPU specication.
System Memory
Displays the auto-detected system memory.

2.4 Ai Tweaker menu

The Ai Tweaker menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system devices.
Main Ai Tweaker Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Congure System Performance Settings
Ai Overclock Tuner [Auto]
CPU Ratio Setting [Auto] Intel(R) SpeedStep(TM) Tech [Enabled] Intel(R) TurboMode Tech [Enabled] Xtreme Phase Full Power Mode [Auto] DRAM Frequency [Auto] QPI Frequency [Auto]
DRAM Timing Control
CPU Differential Amplitude [Auto] CPU Clock Skew [Auto]
******* Please key in numbers directly! *******
VCORE Over Voltage [Auto] IMC Voltage [Auto] DRAM Voltage [16V] CPU PLL Voltage [Auto]
v02.61 (C) Copyright 1985-2009, American Megatrends, Inc.
Scroll down to display the following items:
Main Ai Tweaker Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
PCH Voltage [Auto]
DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHA [Auto] DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHB [Auto]
************************************************
Load-Line Calibration [Auto]
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
[D.O.C.P.] It’s designed to overclock DRAM frequency by adjusting BCLK frequency. [X.M.P.] When X.M.P. is enabled BLCK frequency, CPU ratio and memory parameters will be auto optimized.
Select Screen
Select Item +- Change Field Tab Select Field F1 General Help F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit
Min = 1.050V Max = 1.150V Standard = 1.050V Increment = 0.010V +/- : Raise/Reduce
Select Screen
Select Item +- Change Field Tab Select Field F1 General Help F10 Save and Exit ESC Exit
v02.61 (C) Copyright 1985-2009, American Megatrends, Inc.
2-10 Chapter 2: BIOS information
Ai Overclock Tuner [Auto]
Allows selection of CPU overclocking options to achieve desired CPU internal frequency.
Select either one of the preset overclocking conguration options:
Manual - Allows you to individually set overclocking parameters. Auto - Loads the optimal settings for the system. D.O.C.P. - Overclocks DRAM frequency by adjusting BCLK frequency. X.M.P. - If you install memory module(s) supporting the eXtreme Memory Prole (X.M.P.)
Technology, choose this item to set the prole(s) supported by your memory module(s) for optimizing the system performance.
The conguration options for the following sub-items vary depending on the DIMMs you
install on the motherboard.
DRAM O.C. Profile [DDR3-1600MHz]
This item appears only when you set the Ai Overclock Tuner item to [D.O.C.P.] and
allows you to select a DRAM O.C. prole, which applies different settings to DRAM
frequency, DRAM timing and DRAM voltage.
Conguration options: [DDR3-1600MHz] [DDR3-1800MHz] [DDR3-1866MHz] [DDR3­2000MHz] [DDR3-2133MHz]
eXtreme Memory Profile [Disabled]
This item appears only when you set the Ai Overclock Tuner item to [X.M.P.]
To obtain the best performance of the X.M.P. DIMM or 1600MHz DIMM, install only one
DIMM on each memory channel.
BCLK Frequency [XXX]
Allows you to adjust the CPU operating frequency to enhance the system performance. Use the <+> and <-> keys to adjust the value. You can also key in the desired value using the numeric keypad. The values range from 133 to 500. This item appears only when you set the Ai Overclock Tuner item to [Manual] or [D.O.C.P.]
PCIE Frequency [XXX]
Allows you to set the PCI Express frequency. Use the <+> and <-> keys to adjust the PCIE frequency. You can also key in the desired value using the numeric keypad. The values range from 100 to 160. This item appears only when you set the Ai Overclock
Tuner item to [Manual] or [D.O.C.P.]
CPU Ratio Setting [Auto]
Allows you to adjust the ratio between CPU Core Clock and BCLK Frequency. Use the <+> and <-> keys to adjust the value. The valid value ranges differently according to your CPU model.
Intel(R) SpeedStep(TM) Tech [Enabled]
When set to [Disabled], the CPU runs at its default speed. When set to [Enabled], the CPU
speed is controlled by the operating system. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
ASUS P7P55-M 2-11
Intel(R) TurboMode Tech [Enabled]
This item appears only if you set the Ratio CMOS Setting item to [Auto]. Turbo mode allows
processor cores to run faster than marked frequency in specic condition. Conguration
options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Xtreme Phase Full Power Mode [Auto]
[Auto] Automatic conguration.
[Enabled] Enables Full Power Mode to ensure the best CPU overclocking performance.
DRAM Frequency [Auto]
Allows you to set the DDR3 operating frequency. Conguration options: [Auto] [DDR3-800MHz] [DDR3-1066MHz] [DDR3-1333MHz]
The DRAM Frequency conguration options vary with the BCLK Frequency item settings.
Selecting a very high DRAM frequency may cause the system to become unstable! If this happens, revert to the default setting.
QPI Frequency [Auto]
Allows you to set the QPI operating frequency.
Conguration options: [Auto] [4270MHz] [4800MHz]
DRAM Timing Control
Allows you to select the DRAM timing conguration. Conguration options: [Auto] [Manual]
The conguration options for some of the following items vary depending on the DIMMs
you install on the motherboard.
1st Information: 9-9-9-24-4-60-10-7-20
DRAM CAS# Latency [Auto]
Conguration options: [3 DRAM Clock] - [11 DRAM Clocks]
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay [Auto] DRAM RAS# PRE [Auto]
Conguration options: [3 DRAM Clock] - [15 DRAM Clock]
DRAM RAS# ACT [Auto]
Conguration options: [3 DRAM Clock] - [17 DRAM Clock]
DRAM RAS# to RAS# Delay [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [1 DRAM Clock] - [7 DRAM Clock]
DRAM REF Cycle Time [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [48 DRAM Clock] [60 DRAM Clock] [72 DRAM Clock] [82 DRAM Clock] [88 DRAM Clock] [90 DRAM Clock] [100 DRAM Clock] [110 DRAM
Clock] [114 DRAM Clock] [118 DRAM Clock] [122 DRAM Clock] [126 DRAM Clock] [130 DRAM Clock] [134 DRAM Clock] [138 DRAM Clock]
2-12 Chapter 2: BIOS information
DRAM Writer Recovery Time [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [1 DRAM Clock] - [15 DRAM Clock]
DRAM Read to PRE Time [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [3 DRAM Clock] - [15 DRAM Clock]
DRAM FOUR ACT WIN Time [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [1 DRAM Clock] - [15 DRAM Clock]
DRAM Back-To-Back CAS# Delay [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [4 DRAM Clock] - [32 DRAM Clock]
2nd Information: 1N-46-0
DRAM Timing Mode [Auto]
Conguration options: [1N] [2N] [3N]
RAM Round Trip Latency on CHA [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [Advance 15 Clock]–[Advance 1 Clock] [Normal] [Delay 1 Clock]-[Delay 15 Clock]
DRAM Round Trip Latency on CHB [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [Advance 15 Clock]–[Advance 1 Clock] [Normal] [Delay 1 Clock]-[Delay 15 Clock]
3rd Information: 8-8-25-17-17-17-9-9-6-9-9-6
DRAM WRITE to READ Delay(DD) [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [1 DRAM Clock] – [8 DRAM Clock]
DRAM WRITE to READ Delay(DR) [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [1 DRAM Clock] – [8 DRAM Clock]
DRAM WRITE to READ Delay(SR) [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [10 DRAM Clock] – [22 DRAM Clock]
DRAM READ to WRITE Delay(DD) [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [2 DRAM Clock] – [14 DRAM Clock]
DRAM READ to WRITE Delay(DR) [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [2 DRAM Clock] – [14 DRAM Clock]
DRAM READ to WRITE Delay(SR) [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [2 DRAM Clock] – [14 DRAM Clock]
DRAM READ to READ Delay(DD) [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [2 DRAM Clock] – [9 DRAM Clock]
DRAM READ to READ Delay(DR) [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [2 DRAM Clock] – [9 DRAM Clock]
DRAM READ to READ Delay(SR) [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [4 DRAM Clock] [6 DRAM Clock]
DRAM WRITE to WRITE Delay(DD) [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [2 DRAM Clock] – [9 DRAM Clock]
DRAM WRITE to WRITE Delay(DR) [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [2 DRAM Clock] – [9 DRAM Clock]
DRAM WRITE to WRITE Delay(SR) [Auto]
Conguration options: [Auto] [4 DRAM Clock] [6 DRAM Clock]
CPU Differential Amplitude [Auto]
Different AMP might enhance BCLK overclocking ability.
Conguration options: [Auto] [700mV] [800mV] [900mV] [1000mV]
ASUS P7P55-M 2-13
CPU Clock Skew [Auto]
Adjusting this item may help enhancing BCLK overclocking ability. You may need to adjust the NB Clock Skew item at the same time.
Conguration options: [Auto] [Normal] [Delay 100ps]–[Delay 1500ps]
VCore Over Voltage [Auto]
Allows you to set the CPU vCore over voltage. Use the <+> and <-> keys to adjust the value.
Conguration options: [Auto] [Max.=0.63V] [Min.=0.01V]
Refer to the CPU documentation before setting the CPU vCore voltage. Setting a high voltage may damage the CPU permanently, and setting a low voltage may make the system unstable.
IMC Voltage [Auto]
Allows you to set the CPU Integrated Memory Controller voltage. Use the <+> and <-> keys to
adjust the value. Conguration options: [Auto] [Max.=1.45V] [Min.=1.10V]
DRAM Voltage [Auto]
Allows you to set the DRAM voltage. Use the <+> and <-> keys to adjust the value.
Conguration options: [Auto] [Max.=2.145V] [Min.=1.200V]
CPU PLL Voltage [Auto]
Allows you to set the CPU PLL voltage. Use the <+> and <-> keys to adjust the value.
Conguration options: [Auto] [Max.=2.100V] [Min.=1.800V]
PCH Voltage [Auto]
Allows you to set the Platform Controller Hub voltage. Conguration options: [Auto]
[Max.=1.155V] [Min.=1.050V]
• The values of the IMC Voltage, DRAM Voltage, and CPU PLL Voltage items are labeled
in different color, indicating the risk levels of high voltage settings. Refer to the table below for details.
• The system may need better cooling system to work stably under high voltage settings.
DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHA/B [Auto]
Allows you to set the DRAM DATA Reference Voltage on Channel A/B/C. The values
range from 0.395x to 0.630x with a 0.005x interval. Different ratio might enhance DRAM
overclocking ability.
Load-Line Calibration [Auto]
[Auto] Automatic conguration. [Disabled] Follow Intel specications.
[Enabled] Improve CPU VDroop directly.
2-14 Chapter 2: BIOS information

2.5 Advanced menu

The Advanced menu items allow you to change the settings for the CPU and other system devices.
Take caution when changing the settings of the Advanced menu items. Incorrect eld
values can cause the system to malfunction.
Main Ai Tweaker Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
CPU Conguration
Chipset
Onboard Devices Conguration USB Conguration
PCIPnP
Intel VT-d [Dissabled]
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Congure CPU.
2.5.1 CPU Conguration
The items in this menu show the CPU-related information that the BIOS automatically detects.
CPU Ratio Setting [Auto]
Sets the ration between CPU core clock and the FSB frequency. Key in ratio numbers directly.
If an invalid ratio is set in CMOS, then the actual and set values may differ.
C1E Support [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable C1E Support. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Hardware Prefetcher [Enabled]
Setting this item to [Enabled] allows the processor to fetch data and instructions from the memory into the cache that are likely to be required in the near future. This reduces the
latency associated with memory reads. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Adjacent Cache Line Prefetch [Enabled]
When this item is set to [Enabled], the processor fetches the currently requested cache line, as well as the subsequent cache line. This reduces the cache latency by making the next cache line immediately available if the processor requires it as well. When set to [Disabled],
the processor fetches only the currently requested cache line. Conguration options:
[Disabled] [Enabled]
Max CPUID Value Limit [Disabled]
Setting this item to [Enabled] allows legacy operating systems to boot even without support
for CPUs with extended CPUID functions. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
ASUS P7P55-M 2-15
Intel® Virtualization Tech [Enabled]
Enables or disables Intel® Virtualization Technology. Virtualization enhanced by Intel®
Virtualization Technology allows a platform to run multiple operating systems and applications in independent partitions. With virtualization, one computer system can function as multiple virtual systems. Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
CPU TM function [Enabled]
Enables or disables Intel® CPU Thermal Monitor (TM) function, a CPU overheating protection function. When enabled, the CPU core frequency and voltage are reduced when the CPU
overheats. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Execute-Disable Bit Capability [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the No-Execution Page Protection Technology. Setting this item to [Disabled] forces the XD feature ag to always return to zero (0). Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Active Processor Cores [All]
Allows you to choose the number of CPU cores to activate in each processor package.
Conguration options: [All] [1] [2]
A20M [Disabled]
Setting this item to [Enabled] allows Legacy OSes to be compatible with APs. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
The following item appears only when you installed an Intel® CPU that supports the Enhanced Intel® SpeedStep® Technology (EIST).
Intel(R) SpeedStep(TM) Tech [Enabled]
When set to [Disabled], the CPU runs at its default speed. When set to [Enabled], the CPU
speed is controlled by the operating system. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Intel(R) TurboMode Tech [Enabled]
This item appears only if you set the CPU Ratio Setting item to [Auto]. Turbo mode allows
processor cores to run faster than marked frequency in specic condition. Conguration
options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Intel(R) C-STATE Tech [Disabled]
Allows you enable or disable the Intel® C-STATE Technology. When enabled, the CPU idle is
set to C2/C3/C4/C6. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2-16 Chapter 2: BIOS information

2.5.2 Chipset

The Chipset menu allows you to change the advanced chipset settings. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the submenu.
Memory Remap Feature [Enabled]
Allows you to enabled or disable the remapping of the overlapped PCI memory above the total physical memory. Enable this option only when you install 64-bit operating system.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2.5.3 Onboard Devices Conguration
HDA Controller [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the high denition audio controller. Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
Front Panel Type [HD Audio]
Allows you to select the front panel type. If High Denition Audio Front Panel used, please set HD Audio mode. Conguration options: [AC97] [HD Audio]
Onboard LAN [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the onboard LAN controller.
Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled]
Onboard LAN Boot ROM [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the boot ROM in the onboard LAN controller. This item
appears only when the Onboard LAN item is set to Enabled. Conguration options:
[Disabled] [Enabled]
Onboard IDE Controller [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the onboard IDE controller. Conguration options: [Enabled]
[Disabled]
1394 Controller [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the 1394 controller. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4]
Allows you to select the Serial Port1 base address.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [3F8/IRQ4] [2F8/IRQ3] [3E8/IRQ4] [2E8/IRQ3]
Parallel Port Address [378]
Allows you to select the Parallel Port base addresses. Conguration options: [Disabled] [378] [278] [3BC]
Parallel Port Mode [Normal]
Allows you to select the Parallel Port mode.
Conguration options: [Normal] [Bi-Directional] [EPP] [ECP]
ECP Mode DMA Channel [DMA3]
Appears only when the Parallel Port Mode item is set to [ECP]. This item allows you to
set the Parallel Port ECP DMA. Conguration options: [DMA0] [DMA1] [DMA3]
ASUS P7P55-M 2-17
EPP Version [1.9]
Appears only when the Parallel Port Mode item is set to [EPP]. This item allows you to
select the EPP version. Conguration options: [1.9] [1.7]
Parallel Port IRQ [IRQ7]
Allows you to select parallel port IRQ. Conguration options: [IRQ5] [IRQ7]
2.5.4 USB Conguration
The items in this menu allows you to change the USB-related features. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the conguration options.
The Module Version and USB Devices Enabled items show the auto-detected values. If no USB device is detected, the item shows None.
USB Functions [Enabled]
Allows you to disable or enable the USB functions. Conguration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
Legacy USB Support [Auto]
Allows you to enable or disable support for Legacy USB storage devices, including USB ash drives and USB hard drives. Setting to [Auto] allows the system to detect the presence of USB devices at startup. If detected, the USB controller legacy mode is enabled. If no USB
device is detected, the legacy USB support is disabled. Conguration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled] [Auto]
BIOS EHCI Hand-off [Enabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the BIOS EHCI Hand-off function.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
The following items may only appear when a USB storage device is plugged.
USB Mass Storage Device Conguration
USB Mass Storage Reset Delay [20 Sec]
Allows you to set the maximum time that the BIOS waits for the USB storage device to
initialize. Conguration options: [10 Sec] [20 Sec] [30 Sec] [40 Sec]
Emulation Type [Auto]
Allows you to set the emulation type. Conguration options: [Auto] [Floppy] [Forced FDD]
[Hard Disk] [CDROM]
2-18 Chapter 2: BIOS information

2.5.5 PCI PnP

The PCI PnP menu items allow you to change the advanced settings for PCI/PnP devices. The menu includes setting IRQ and DMA channel resources for either PCI/PnP or legacy ISA
devices, and setting the memory size block for legacy ISA devices.
Take caution when changing the settings of the PCI PnP menu items. Incorrect eld values
can cause the system to malfunction.
Plug and Play O/S [No]
When set to [No], BIOS congures all the devices in the system. When set to [Yes] and if you install a Plug and Play operating system, the operating system congures the Plug and Play devices not required for boot. Conguration options: [No] [Yes]

2.5.6 Intel VT-d [Disabled]

Allows you to enable or disable the Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
ASUS P7P55-M 2-19

2.6 Power menu

The Power menu items allow you to change the settings for the Advanced Power Management (APM). Select an item then press <Enter> to display the conguration options.
Main Ai Tweaker Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Suspend Mode [Auto]
ACPI 2.0 Support [Enabled] ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]
APM Conguration
Hardware Monitor
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Select the ACPI state used for System Suspend.

2.6.1 Suspend Mode [Auto]

Allows you to select the Advanced Conguration and Power Interface (ACPI) state to be used for system suspend. Conguration options: [S1 (POS) Only] [S3 Only] [Auto]
[S1(POS) Only] - Enables the system to enter the ACPI S1 (Power on Suspend) sleep
state. In S1 sleep state, the system appears suspended and stays in a low power mode. The system can be resumed at any time. [S3 Only] - Enables the system to enter the ACPI S3 (Suspend to RAM) sleep state (default). In S3 sleep state, the system appears to be off and consumes less power than in the S1 state. When signaled by a wake-up device or event, the system resumes to its working state exactly where it was left off.
[Auto] - Detected by OS.

2.6.2 ACPI 2.0 Support [Enabled]

Allows you to add more tables for Advanced Conguration and Power Interface (ACPI) 2.0 specications. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

2.6.3 ACPI APIC Support [Enabled]

Allows you to enable or disable the Advanced Conguration and Power Interface (ACPI) support in the Application-Specic Integrated Circuit (ASIC). When set to Enabled, the ACPI APIC table pointer is included in the RSDT pointer list. Conguration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
2.6.4 APM Conguration
Restore on AC Power Loss [Power Off]
When set to [Power Off], the system goes into off state after an AC power loss. When set to [Power On], the system goes on after an AC power loss. When set to [Last State], the system goes into either off or on state, whatever the system state was before the AC power
loss. Conguration options: [Power Off] [Power On] [Last State]
Power On By RTC Alarm [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable RTC to generate a wake event. When this item is set to Enabled, the items RTC Alarm Date, RTC Alarm Hour, RTC Alarm Minute, and RTC Alarm
Second appear with set values. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
2-20 Chapter 2: BIOS information
Power On By External Modems [Disabled]
This allows either settings of [Enabled] or [Disabled] for powering up the computer when
the external modem receives a call while the computer is in Soft-off mode. Conguration
options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Power On PCI Devices [Disabled]
When set to [Enabled], this parameter allows you to wake the system through a PCI LAN or modem card. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the
+5VSB lead. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Power On PCIE Devices [Disabled]
When set to [Enabled], this parameter allows you to wake the system through a PCI Express card. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB
lead. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Power On By PS/2 Keyboard [Disabled]
Allows you to use specic keys on the PS/2 keyboard to turn on the system. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB lead. Conguration
options: [Disabled] [Space Bar] [Ctrl-Esc] [Power Key]
Power On By PS/2 Mouse [Disabled]
When set to [Enabled], this parameter allows you to use the PS/2 mouse to turn on the
system. This feature requires an ATX power supply that provides at least 1A on the +5VSB
lead. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

2.6.5 Hardware Monitor

CPU Temperature [xxxºC/xxxºF] or [Ignored]
MB Temperature [xxxºC/xxxºF] or [Ignored]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the motherboard and CPU temperatures. Select Ignored if you do not wish to display the detected temperatures.
CPU Fan Speed [xxxxRPM] or [Ignored]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the CPU fan speed in
rotations per minute (RPM). If the fan is not connected to the motherboard, the eld shows
N/A. Select Ignored if you do not wish to display the detected speed.
CPU Q-Fan Control [Disabled]
Allows you to enable or disable the Q-Fan control. Conguration options: [Disabled]
[Enabled]
Chassis Fan Speed [Ignored] or [N/A]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects and displays the Chassis fan speed in
rotations per minute (RPM). If the fan is not connected to the motherboard, the eld shows
N/A. Select Ignored if you do not wish to display the detected speed.
CPU Voltage, 3.3V Voltage, 5V Voltage, 12V Voltage [xxxV] or [Ignored]
The onboard hardware monitor automatically detects the voltage output through the onboard voltage regulators.
ASUS P7P55-M 2-21

2.7 Boot menu

The Boot menu items allow you to change the system boot options. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.
Main Ai Tweaker Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Boot Settings
Boot Device Priority
Boot Settings Conguration
Security

2.7.1 Boot Device Priority

1st ~ xxth Boot Device
These items specify the boot device priority sequence from the available devices. The number of device items that appears on the screen depends on the number of devices installed in the system. Conguration options: [Removable Dev.] [Hard Drive] [ATAPI CD-ROM] [Disabled]
2.7.2 Boot Settings Conguration
Quick Boot [Enabled]
Enabling this item allows the BIOS to skip some power on self tests (POST) while booting to decrease the time needed to boot the system. When set to [Disabled], BIOS performs all the
POST items. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Full Screen Logo [Enabled]
This allows you to enable or disable the full screen logo display feature. Conguration
options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Species the Boot
Device Priority sequence.
A virtual drive (Drive B:) may appear when you set the CD-ROM drive as
the rst boot device.
Set this item to [Enabled] to use the ASUS MyLogo2™ feature.
AddOn ROM Display Mode [Force BIOS]
Sets the display mode for option ROM. Conguration options: [Force BIOS] [Keep Current]
Bootup Num-Lock [On]
Allows you to select the power-on state for the NumLock.
Conguration options: [Off] [On]
2-22 Chapter 2: BIOS information
Wait For ‘F1’ If Error [Enabled]
When set to Enabled, the system waits for the F1 key to be pressed when error occurs.
Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]
Hit ‘DEL’ Message Display [Enabled]
When set to [Enabled], the system displays the message Press DEL to run Setup during
POST. Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

2.7.3 Security

The Security menu items allow you to change the system security settings. Select an item then press <Enter> to display the conguration options.
Change Supervisor Password
Select this item to set or change the supervisor password. The Supervisor Password item on top of the screen shows the default Not Installed. After you set a password, this item shows Installed.
To set a Supervisor Password:
1. Select the Change Supervisor Password item and press <Enter>.
2. On the password box, key in a password containing up to six letters, or numbers, or
both, then press <Enter>.
3. Conrm the password when prompted.
The message Password Installed appears after you successfully set your password. To change the supervisor password, follow the same steps in setting a supervisor password. To clear the supervisor password, select the Change Supervisor Password then press
<Enter> twice. The message Password uninstalled appears.
If you forget your BIOS password, you can clear it by erasing the CMOS Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM. See section 1.9 Jumpers for information on how to erase the RTC RAM.
After you have set a supervisor password, the other items appear to allow you to change other security settings.
User Access Level [Full Access]
This item allows you to select the access restriction to the Setup items.
Conguration options: [No Access] [View Only] [Limited] [Full Access]
[No Access] - prevents user access to the Setup utility. [View Only] - allows access but does not allow change to any eld. [Limited] - allows changes only to selected elds, such as Date and Time. [Full Access] - allows viewing and changing all the elds in the Setup utility.
ASUS P7P55-M 2-23
Change User Password
Select this item to set or change the user password. The User Password item on top of the screen shows the default Not Installed. After you set a password, this item shows Installed.
To set a User Password:
1. Select the Change User Password item and press <Enter>.
2. On the password box, key in a password containing up to six letters, or numbers, or
both, then press <Enter>.
3. Conrm the password when prompted.
The message Password Installed appears after you set your password successfully. To change the user password, follow the same steps in setting a user password.
Clear User Password
Select this item to clear the user password.
Password Check [Setup]
When set to [Setup], BIOS checks for user password when accessing the Setup utility. When set to [Always], BIOS checks for user password both when accessing Setup and booting the
system. Conguration options: [Setup] [Always]
2-24 Chapter 2: BIOS information

2.8 Tools menu

The Tools menu items allow you to congure options for special functions. Select an item then
press <Enter> to display the sub-menu.
Main Ai Tweaker Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
ASUS O.C. Prole
AI NET 2
ASUS EZ Flash 2 Express Gate [Auto] Enter OS Timer [10 Seconds] Reset User Data [No]
2.8.1 ASUS O.C. Prole
Add Your CMOS Prole
Allows you to save the current BIOS le to the BIOS Flash. In the Name sub-item, type your prole name and press <Enter>, and then choose a prole number to save your CMOS
settings in the Save to sub-item.
Load CMOS Prole
Allows youu to load the previous BIOS settings saved in thee BIOS Flash. Press <Enter>,
and choose a prole to load.
Start O.C. Prole
Allows you to run the utility to save and load CMOS. Press <Enter> to runt the utility.
Current CMOS
BOARD: P7P55M VER: 0157 DATE: 09/23/2009
PATH: A:\
A:
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
ASUSTek O.C. Prole Utility V4.00a
Restore CMOS
BOARD: Unknown VER: Unknown DATE: Unknown
Note
[Enter] Select or Load [Tab] Switch [V] Drive Info [Up/Down/Home/End] Move [B] Backup [ESC] Exit
• This function can support devices such as a USB ash disk with FAT32/16 format and
single partition only.
• DO NOT shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS to prevent the system boot failure!
• We recommend that you update the BIOS le only coming from the same memory/CPU conguration and BIOS version.
• Only the CMO le can be loaded.
ASUS P7P55-M 2-25

2.8.2 AI NET 2

Check Realtek LAN cable [Disabled]
Enables or disables checking of the Realtek LAN cable during the Power-On Self-Test
(POST). Conguration options: [Disabled] [Enabled]

2.8.3 ASUS EZ Flash 2

Allows you to run ASUS EZ Flash 2. When you press <Enter>, a conrmation message appears. Use the left/right arrow key to select between [Yes] or [No], then press <Enter> to
conrm your choice. Please see section 2.1.2 for details.

2.8.4 Express Gate [Auto]

Allows you to enable or disable the ASUS Express Gate feature. The ASUS Express Gate feature is a unique instant-on environment that provides quick access to the Internet browser
and Skype. Conguration options: [Enabled] [Disabled] [Auto]
Enter OS Timer [10 Seconds]
Sets countdown duration that the system waits at the Express Gate’s rst screen
before starting Windows or other installed OS. Choose [Prompt User] to stay at the
rst screen of Express Gate for user action. Conguration options: [Prompt User] [1 second] [3 seconds] [5 seconds] [10 seconds] [15 seconds] [20 seconds] [30 seconds]
Reset User Data [No]
Allows you to clear Express Gate’s user data. Conguration options: [No] [Reset]
When setting this item to [Reset], make sure to save the setting to the BIOS so that the user data will be cleared the next time you enter the Express Gate. User data
includes the Express Gate’s settings as well as any personal information stored by the
web browser (bookmarks, cookies, browsing history, etc.). This is useful in the rare case where corrupt settings prevent the Express Gate environment from launching properly.
The rst time wizard will run again when you enter the Express Gate environment after
clearing its settings.
2-26 Chapter 2: BIOS information

2.9 Exit menu

The Exit menu items allow you to load the optimal or failsafe default values for the BIOS items, and save or discard your changes to the BIOS items.
Main Ai Tweaker Advanced Power Boot Tools Exit
Exit Options
Exit & Save Changes
Exit & Discard Changes Discard Changes
Load Setup Defaults
Pressing <Esc> does not immediately exit this menu. Select one of the options from this menu or <F10> from the legend bar to exit.
Exit & Save Changes
Once you are nished making your selections, choose this option from the Exit menu to
ensure the values you selected are saved to the CMOS RAM. An onboard backup battery sustains the CMOS RAM so it stays on even when the PC is turned off. When you select this
option, a conrmation window appears. Select OK to save changes and exit.
Exit & Discard Changes
Select this option only if you do not want to save the changes that you made to the Setup
program. If you made changes to elds other than System Date, System Time, and Password, the BIOS asks for a conrmation before exiting.
Discard Changes
This option allows you to discard the selections you made and restore the previously saved values. After selecting this option, a conrmation appears. Select OK to discard any changes and load the previously saved values.
Load Setup Defaults
This option allows you to load the default values for each of the parameters on the Setup menus. When you select this option or if you press <F5>, a conrmation window appears. Select OK to load default values. Select Exit & Save Changes or make other changes before saving the values to the non-volatile RAM.
BIOS SETUP UTILITY
Exit system setup after saving the cahnges.
F10 key can be used for this operation.
ASUS P7P55-M 2-27
2-28 Chapter 2: BIOS information
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